Who can really say the game of golf is in decline, come on just look at what we have, that gives us that get up and go. We are luck today with all the latest aids and technological marvels that assist our game while improving our score. Who could possible complain about the current state of the game.
Just look at what we have, we are spoilt for choice, don’t agree then let’s list a few of our options, don’t fancy walking or playing with a walker, simple play at No walking clubs, feel that club is too far away then you can ride at your local course avoiding the walkers. You will not get lost as your cart has GPS, however I have never been able to tune it into Radio 1 (probably a sign of my age rather that the thing not working correctly). You do not have to get off the cart to judge distance, scrap those books and sprinkle markers, they are too complicated and getting a bit dated, use the electronic unit, just point it at the ball and there you have your distance. Although telling me distance is like speaking Dutch, I just cannot equate to distance in yards inches meters or cans of Coke. In fact not certain it’s my ball I zapped when I check distance, but no one noticed and it looks cool. Gives me the air of knowing what I am doing. Now I take a cart these days just to carry my bag which seems to have gotten as fat as me over the years, probably something to do with the new clubs and the size of some of the heads. Don’t know about you but can’t get use to the funny virginal tinny sound when I hit the ball, but boy does it take the ball. As I get older my ball travels further and that has nothing to do with my recent surgery in that area. I thought I peaked in my late 30, early 40’s but now I matching those Halcyon days, so don’t tell me golf is in decline. Far from it and my game has gone from strength to strength, proving just what a wonderful game it is. Sorry, lost my thread what game where we talking about, ah yes don’t tell me, it will come to me. You know the problem today is all the youngsters just have no commitment to anything, unlike us old timers who honour and hold dear the great traditions of the past, sorry what game have we been talking about?
The decline of the game as we know it, well decline, not certain if that is the right choice of words I would use, but it’s certainly applicable to the care the governing bodies are showing to the heart and spirit of some sports. Make something easy, remove the challenge allowing outside aids to do the work that once was a paramount part of the sportsman’s inner game and just what do you expect. These others sports could learn a thing or two about golf and how we have controlled the game. Decline, never heard such rubbish.
The Devil’s Advocate speaking on behalf of the R&A